1,672 research outputs found

    1992 Accounting Hall of Fame induction : David Solomons; Accounting Hall of Fame membership [1992]

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    1992 Accounting Hall of Fame Induction: David Solomons with introduction by Stephen A. Zeff (Herbert S. Autrey Professor, Jones Graduate School of Administration, Rice University); Induction citation by Thomas J. Burns (Professor and Chairman, Committee on Accounting Hall of Fame, College of Business, The Ohio State University); Response by David Solomons (Ernst & Young Professor Emeritus, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania)

    Investigating sources of variability of monochromatic and transverse chromatic aberrations across eyes

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    AbstractSchematic eye models have typically been used to explain the average monochromatic and chromatic imaging properties of the eye. Both monochromatic aberrations and transverse chromatic aberration are known to vary widely across subjects. However, to our knowledge, the ability of schematic eye models to predict these individual variations has not been tested experimentally. We used a spatially resolved refractometer to measure the monochromatic aberrations and the optical transverse chromatic aberration (oTCA) in a group of 15 eyes. By recording the 1st and 4th Purkinje images for five directions of gaze, we also estimated the tilt, misalignment of ocular surfaces (front surface of the cornea and back surface of the lens) and off-axis position of the fovea (angle alpha), as well as pupil centration. We conclude that, contrary to expectations none of those factors are major contributors to the variability in monochromatic aberrations and oTCA in this group of eyes. Simulations show that corneal curvature and corneal conicity are also unlikely to account for the observed relation between monochromatic aberrations and oTCA. Our results suggest an important contribution of corneal irregularities to those aberrations

    Enteric Absorption of Ciprofloxacin During Tube Feeding in the Critically Ill

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    To determine the pharmacokinetic properties of ciprofloxacin in the critically ill, we studied seven mechanically ventilated patients with pneumonia during entcral feedings. Subjects received ciprofloxacin 750 mg every 12 h via nasogastric tube and serial serum drug concentrations were measured after the first and fourth dose. After the initial dose, the maximum serum concentration ranged from 1.24–3.06 mg/L, and the area under the time curve from 0–12 h ranged from 3.2–19.65 mg.h/L. Similar levels were noted after dose four. Gastrointestinal absorption of ciprofloxacin in tube fed critically ill patients was decreased, but well above MIC values for many pathogenic bacteria

    Routes to improving the reliability of low level DNA analysis using real-time PCR

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    BACKGROUND: Accurate quantification of DNA using quantitative real-time PCR at low levels is increasingly important for clinical, environmental and forensic applications. At low concentration levels (here referring to under 100 target copies) DNA quantification is sensitive to losses during preparation, and suffers from appreciable valid non-detection rates for sampling reasons. This paper reports studies on a real-time quantitative PCR assay targeting a region of the human SRY gene over a concentration range of 0.5 to 1000 target copies. The effects of different sample preparation and calibration methods on quantitative accuracy were investigated. RESULTS: At very low target concentrations of 0.5–10 genome equivalents (g.e.) eliminating any replicates within each DNA standard concentration with no measurable signal (non-detects) compromised calibration. Improved calibration could be achieved by eliminating all calibration replicates for any calibration standard concentration with non-detects ('elimination by sample'). Test samples also showed positive bias if non-detects were removed prior to averaging; less biased results were obtained by converting to concentration, including non-detects as zero concentration, and averaging all values. Tube plastic proved to have a strongly significant effect on DNA quantitation at low levels (p = 1.8 × 10(-4)). At low concentrations (under 10 g.e.), results for assays prepared in standard plastic were reduced by about 50% compared to the low-retention plastic. Preparation solution (carrier DNA or stabiliser) was not found to have a significant effect in this study. Detection probabilities were calculated using logistic regression. Logistic regression over large concentration ranges proved sensitive to non-detected replicate reactions due to amplification failure at high concentrations; the effect could be reduced by regression against log (concentration) or, better, by eliminating invalid responses. CONCLUSION: Use of low-retention plastic tubes is advised for quantification of DNA solutions at levels below 100 g.e. For low-level calibration using linear least squares, it is better to eliminate the entire replicate group for any standard that shows non-detects reasonably attributable to sampling effects than to either eliminate non-detects or to assign arbitrary high Ct values. In calculating concentrations for low-level test samples with non-detects, concentrations should be calculated for each replicate, zero concentration assigned to non-detects, and all resulting concentration values averaged. Logistic regression is a useful method of estimating detection probability at low DNA concentrations

    Pre-diabetes in overweight youth and early atherogenic risk

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    PURPOSE: To compare atherogenic lipoprotein particles and vascular smooth muscle biomarkers in overweight youth with pre-diabetes (PD) vs. normal glucose tolerance (NGT). METHODS: 144 adolescents (60 black, 84 white; 102 female; PD=45, NGT=99) aged 10-19 years underwent a fasting blood draw and 2-h OGTT. Lipoprotein particle size and subclass concentration and vascular smooth muscle biomarkers (ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin) were compared between youth with PD and NGT. RESULTS: Compared with NGT, PD adolescents had smaller LDL (mean±SE: 20.5±0.1 vs. 21.0±0.1 nm; P=0.002) and HDL (8.62±0.05 vs. 8.85±0.04 nm; P=0.013) size and elevated medium small (159.2±10.3 vs. 123.8±6.4 nmol/L; P=0.037) and very small (626.3±45.4 vs. 458.5±26.4 nmol/L; P=0.032) LDL particle concentrations, after adjustment for race and BMI. Further adjusting for fasting insulin or visceral adiposity obviated these differences between the groups except for LDL size. ICAM-1 and E-selectin did not differ in youth with PD but correlated with LDL and HDL size, and small LDL particle concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight adolescents with PD have an atherogenic lipoprotein profile of small LDL and HDL size and increased concentrations of small LDL, moderated by insulin resistance and visceral adiposity, but independently driven by dysglycemia for LDL size. Associations between smooth muscle biomarkers and lipoproteins could be an early signal heralding the atherogenic process. It remains to be determined if correction of dysglycemia and associated lipoprotein abnormalities in obese youth could prove effective in halting this process

    Imaging Glaucomatous Damage Across the Temporal Raphe

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    PURPOSE. To image and analyze anatomical differences at the temporal raphe between normal and glaucomatous eyes using adaptive optics scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO) and optical coherence tomography (OCT), and to relate these differences to visual field measurements. METHODS. Nine glaucomatous eyes of 9 patients (age 54-78 years, mean deviation of visual field [MD] À5.03 to À0.20 dB) and 10 normal eyes of 10 controls (age 54-81, MD À1.13 to þ1.39 dB) were enrolled. All the participants were imaged in a region that was centered approximately 98 temporal to the fovea. The size of imaging region was at least 108 vertically by 48 horizontally. The raphe gap, defined as the distance between the superior and inferior retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) bundles, was measured. A bundle index was computed to quantify the relative reflectivity and density of the nerve fiber bundles. We also measured thickness of the ganglion cell complex (GCC) and RNFL. RESULTS. The raphe gap was larger in glaucomatous eyes than control eyes. Specifically, eight glaucomatous eyes with local averaged field loss no worse than À3.5 dB had larger raphe gaps than all control eyes. The bundle index, GCC thickness, and RNFL thickness were on average reduced in glaucomatous eyes, with the first two showing statistically significant differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS. Structural changes in the temporal raphe were observed and quantified even when local functional loss was mild. These techniques open the possibility of using the raphe as a site for glaucoma research and clinical assessment

    Adult Patients Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Hospitalized for Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the United States: Incidence and Outcomes

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    Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common infectious reason for hospitalization of adults in the United States (US), including those with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). While there are studies detailing the incidence and outcomes for all adults with CAP we are not aware of a recent study detailing incidence and outcomes in adult HIV patients hospitalized with CAP. The objectives of this study were (1) to define the current incidence and outcomes of adult HIV patients hospitalized with CAP in Louisville, Kentucky, and (2) to estimate the burden of CAP in the US HIV adult population. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of The University of Louisville Pneumonia Study; a prospective population-based cohort study of all hospitalized adults with CAP who were residents of Louisville, Kentucky, from 1 June 2014 to 31 May 2016. Results: A total of 110 unique patients living with HIV were hospitalized with CAP during our two-year study. The annual incidence of adults living with HIV hospitalized with CAP is estimated to be 1,950 per 100,000. Of the estimated 1.1 million adults living with HIV in the US currently we predict that 21,450 will be hospitalized with CAP annually. The median time to clinical stability in adult patients living with HIV hospitalized with CAP was 2 (IQR: [1, 3]) days. The median length of stay for adult patients living with HIV hospitalized with CAP was 4 (IQR: [3, 7]) days. Mortality occurred as follows; in-hospital: 1.8%, 30-day 6.8%, 6-month 15.5%, and 1 year 20.2%. Conclusion: The estimated annual incidence of adult patients living with HIV and hospitalized with CAP was found to be 1,950 per 100,000 suggesting that 21,450 adults living with HIV will be admitted with CAP yearly across the US. This is a similar incidence to that recently predicted for the elderly. Mortality occurred as follows; in-hospital: 1.8%, 30-day 6.8%, 6-month 15.5%, and 1 year 20.2%. Our 30-day mortality rate for adult patients living with HIV hospitalized for CAP was similar to other figures in the literature
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